An elderly Antioch woman could lose her home after signing an agreement with a company she no longer trusts.
It was about a month ago when Gladys Waters called a home buying business who had left a card at her Algonquin Court home. The 77-year-old woman said she came to an agreement with an associate of the business and signed an agreement.
Weeks later, Waters said she still hadn't received paperwork or a contract. Waters said she requested the signed paperwork weeks ago but hasn't received anything back. She was considering moving to San Diego to be near family, but changed her mind.
"I signed them, because I decided I want to go home. Then I decided, I don't want to go home," Waters said. "[A business] assistant called and said you have a contract and you have to follow the contact."
Waters said the agreement was to sell the home for $121,000, but a concerned neighbor said houses in that neighborhood go for $200,000 or more.
"I don't know anything about that until last week," said Norris Johnson, a concerned neighbor who looks after Waters. "She told me she was moving. I was like, when? She said, well I've got 30 days to get out."
Johnson said he became concerned when Waters power went out at the home. He said he didn't know if someone had cut power to the home. However, after contacting NES, the power was reconnected.
Johnson said all of his neighbors have been approached by businesses hoping to buy their properties. He's worried this time, Waters was taken advantage of.
A representative with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) said this instance does sound fishy.
"Definitely not having a copy of the contract is the #1 red flag," said Brandi Zaccardi,Senior Vice President at BBB. "In addition, not really knowing who she was doing business with. Those are key factors that I think consumers need to be aware of. Know who you're doing business with, keep the contracts."
NewsChannel5 was not able to obtain paperwork from the business and therefore the business will not be named in this article. It's unclear if there were any errors. Zaccardi said a BBB representative would follow up with the business. She said there is a lack of transparency in this case.
